Control of Canary Grass and Nutsedge Weeds with Microbially Derived Herbicides

Abstract

For the control of Reeds Canary grass (Phalaris arundinaceae) and yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) in blueberry fields, no satisfactory control measures are available. We tried microbially derived aerobic fermentation extracts of Pseudomonas syringae strain 3366 (P. S. 3366) as pre- and -post-emergence applications for the control of Reeds Canary grass and yellow nutsedge. In greenhouse studies using “conetainers,” 2 mg of extract per g of soil applied as preemergence completely inhibited seed germination and aerial growth of Canary grass, but had no effect on nutsedge. In addition, the same level of concentration of P. S. 3366 (2 mg of extract/g of soil) under field conditions also showed 99% inhibition of germination and growth of Canary grass, but had no effect on germination of nutsedge. However, 4-fold increase in concentration of P. S. 3366 extract completely inhibited the sprouting of yellow nutsedge in greenhouse studies. These studies indicate microbially derived extract of P.S. 3366 can be used and has potential for the control of these weeds. Post-emergence foliar sprays of P. S. 3366 extract in blueberry fields failed to inhibit the aerial growth of Reeds canary grass and yellow nutsedge.